Seven-Years Ago (31-August-2012) — Ireland

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 09: Arrive and Depart Ireland. Galway, Claire County, and Cliffs of Moher Field Trip.

After a long nine days crossing the North Atlantic ocean we arrived in Galway, Ireland just after sunrise. We were given our passports, and went through immigration on the ship. The ship anchored, and we were tendered into Galway via the ships lifeboats. The day was overcast with some drizzle and rain. We were only going to be there for the day and I had signed up for the Cliffs of Moher field trip. First stop was Dunguaire Castle. The quick rest stop in Ballyvaughn ended up being a long rest stop since there were only a couple of toilets. An interesting character with a pipe was waiting in front of the village store. We then visited the ancient Poulnabrone Portal Tomb. As we drove through to the Cliffs of Moher passed a road sign for Lisdoonvarna — Largest Matchmaking Festival in Europe. There were also old stone homes, and farms with cows and horses on very green fields. We were running late, and missed the tourist boat we were supposed to take to the Cliffs. The next tourist boat was the Tranquility. The seas were rough even more than our crossing the North Atlantic. By the end of the tour, some of the students looked pretty green. The final stop was to a pub for a traditional Irish meal. Unfortunately, the meal was rushed because we had a deadline to get back onto the MV Explorer.


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Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slideshow.



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Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slideshow.



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Lisdoonvarna -- Matchmaking Festival. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm lens. (David J Mathre)
Lisdoonvarna — Matchmaking Festival. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm lens. (David J Mathre)


Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slideshow.



Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slideshow.


Lamb Stew and Guinness. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 10 mm lens. (David J Mathre)
Lamb Stew and Guinness. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 10 mm lens. (David J Mathre)

Seven-Years Ago (27-August-2012) — North Atlantic Ocean

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 05: At Sea, North Atlantic Ocean.

The day was a bit rough as we crossed the North Atlantic. Splash from the waves made it up to the portal in my cabin on deck 5 of the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5, 1/320 sec).
I didn’t get sea sick, but there were not many of the students or staff that showed up for lunch or dinner. Most of the decks were off limits due to the heavy seas and winds. In the early evening I was able to set up a camera in a protected area to capture the sun going down for a time-lapse video.

Heavy Seas. Waves breaking up to my cabin window.  Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Heavy Seas. Waves breaking up to my cabin window.  Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/5, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

Seven-Years Ago (24-August-2012) — North Atlantic Ocean

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 02: At Sea, North Atlantic Ocean.

Waiting for the Sun to set from the aft deck of the M/V Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 122 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec).

Sunset at Sea on the M/V Explorer. Fall 2012 Semester at Sea Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 122 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunset at Sea on the M/V Explorer. Fall 2012 Semester at Sea Voyage. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 122 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

Time-lapse video of the sun setting from the aft deck of the MV Explorer.  Images taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro. Time-lapse video created using Photoshop CC. Two versions first without additional processing, and the second applying a warping filter using After Effects CC to minimize motion while hand holding the camera on a moving ship.

Four-Years Ago (31-August-2012) — Ireland

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 09: Arrive and Depart Galway, Ireland.

It’s September tomorrow. What else can I say…

View from the bus traveling between Galway and the Cliffs of Moher. Lisdoonvarna - Home of the Famous Matchmaking Festival. Image taken with a Nikon 1V1 camera and 10-100 mm lens. (David J Mathre)
View from the bus traveling between Galway and the Cliffs of Moher. Lisdoonvarna – Home of the Famous Matchmaking Festival. Image taken with a Nikon 1V1 camera and 10-100 mm lens. (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (31-August-2012) — Ireland

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 09: Arrive and Depart Galway, Ireland.

Rope Fence Protecting Poulnabrone Dolmen, a Portal Tomb in County Claire. The tomb is at least 5000 years old. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm lens (ISO 200, 30 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec).

Poulnabrone Dolmen, a Portal Tomb in County Claire. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm lens (ISO 200, 30 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Poulnabrone Dolmen, a Portal Tomb in County Claire. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm lens (ISO 200, 30 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)